Shipments for digital still cameras surpassed 63 million units worldwide in 2004, according to Lyra Research?s Digital Photography Advisory Service. Worldwide shipments will surpass 100 million units in 2008, the group projects in its new digital camera forecast.

Sales of cameras have also had an effect on printers and media. ?Many new camera buyers?are looking for a total photographic solution,? says Robert Palmer, director of Lyra?s Digital Photography Advisory Service. Camera and printer bundles, he says, will gain momentum in 2005: ?Explosive growth in digital camera sales will fuel the market for photographic prints. More than 18 billion prints were produced from digital camera images in 2004, two-thirds of which were produced in the home.?

Other highlights from the forecast:

The 3-megapixel category remained the most popular digital camera segment in 2004, but shipments are increasing in the 4-, 5-, and 6-megapixel segments.

Most point-and-shoot cameras now shipping are 4- and 5-megapixel models, and Lyra expects that, by 2005, 5+ megapixel cameras will account for more worldwide shipments than any other segments.

In 2004, for the first time ever, Europe became the largest market in terms of unit shipments, taking the top spot from the US, which is now second in terms of shipments (Japan is the third-largest market). (Lyra: www.lyra.com)